67 species of reptiles, 59 amphibians recorded in Wayanad forest survey
- September 10, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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67 species of reptiles, 59 amphibians recorded in Wayanad forest survey
Subject :Environment
Section: Protected Area
Survey in Wayanad:
- Survey conducted by: University of Calicut, Kerala Forest Research Institute, South Wayanad forest department and Aranyakam Nature Foundation.
- 67 species of reptiles and 59 species of amphibians were identified in the first herpetofaunal survey that concluded recently in the South Wayanad Forest Division.
- Of these, four amphibians and three reptiles were spotted for the first time at the forest division.
- Of the 126 species identified, 48 amphibians and 21 reptiles are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Species found:
- Important amphibian species recorded are: Starry Night Frog, bearing a constellation of blue dots on its obsidian body; Miniature Night Frog, the tiniest frog in the country; Naked Dancing Frog; and endangered species such as Malabar Torrent Toad and Red Stream Toad.
- Wayanad Dravidogecko, Nilgiri Spiny Lizard, and the Nilgiri Forest Lizard are also sighted.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS):
- WWS is a wildlife sanctuary in Wayanad, Kerala, India with four hill ranges namely Sulthan Bathery, Muthanga, Kurichiat and Tholpetty.
- Species: gaur, Asian elephant, deer and tiger are found there.
- It is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala.
- Established in 1973, the sanctuary is now an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- It is bounded by the protected area network of Nagarhole National Park and Bandipur National Park in Karnataka in the northeast, and on the southeast by Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu.
- It is part of the Deccan Plateau
- Vegetation : Predominantly of the south Indian moist deciduous teak forests and west-coast semi-evergreen trees.
- The wildlife sanctuary comes under Protect Elephant.
- Scheduled tribes : Paniyas, Kurubas, Adiyans, Kurichiyas, Ooralis and Kattunaikkans.